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| nudibranchs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Gastropoda > sea slugs > Order Nudibranchia |
| Blue
dragon nudibranch Pteraeolidia ianthina Family Glaucidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This brilliant nudibranch is often seen on many of our shores, in coral rubble and near reefs. Features: 3-5cm. Long, narrow, soft body with finger-like projections (called cerata) arranged in hand-like clusters along the length of the body. Although those encountered were mostly blue, this nudibranch reportedly comes in various colours from yellow to green. It is identified by the purple bands on its long oral tentacles. It has a pair of shorter feathery rhinophores. What does it eat? It eats hydroids. A large solitary hydroid, Ralpharia sp. is among the adult's favourite food. Young ones have been seen among short 'turfing' hydroids. The blue dragon nudibranch can also capture zooxanthellae and store these within its body. Here, the zooxanthellae get protection and in turn provides the nudibranch with much of the nutrients produced through photosynthesis. Young animals are white as they have yet to develop their crop of zooxanthellae. Adults often can go without feeding for sometime, possibly living off the nutrients provided by the zooxanthallae. Pteraeolidia species have a habit of staying near their eggs once they've laid them. Several individuals may stay near the eggs for several weeks. But it is not clear whether they are actually caring for their eggs. |
 Beting Bronok, Aug 05  Purple bands on oral tentacles. |
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 Cerata sin hand-like clusters. |
 Feathery rhinophores. |
Blue dragon nudibranchs on Singapore shores
 Tuas, Apr 04 |
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 Beting Bronok, May 09 |
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more photos of blue dragon nudibranchs on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2
Links
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IKAN-Unterwasserachiv, Frankfurt. 321 pp.|
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